March 19, 2026

Upcoming Changes to PHIA: Education Sessions on Disclosure Without Consent 

Effective April 1, 2026, amendments to the Nova Scotia Personal Health Information Act (PHIA) will change the threshold for discretionary disclosure of personal health information without consent in situations involving significant danger. The amendment removes the requirement that the significant danger be “imminent,” allowing healthcare professionals to consider disclosure earlier when they reasonably believe it may help avert or minimize the danger.  

Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health will be hosting education sessions to help attendees understand the practical implications of the legislative change. The sessions will provide a brief overview of the amendment, clarify what is and is not changing in daily practice, and outline key considerations for using professional judgment regarding disclosure without consent. 

These synchronous virtual sessions will be offered on MS Teams and are identical in content. Participants are asked to attend one session only. Both sessions will be recorded and a version will be shared with those unable to attend. Here are the dates and times. 

• March 23, 2026, 11-11:30 a.m. 
• March 30, 2026, 10-10:30 a.m. 

This discussion will emphasize the continued discretionary nature of the provision, the importance of case-by-case assessment and the requirement to limit disclosure to the minimum necessary information. 

One Person One Record (OPOR) Program Updates

OPOR Updates This Week at a Glance:


• Stay informed via the Provider Digital Adoption and Advisory Council (PDAAC)
• Wave Two training and practice opportunities - sign up today!
• Reminder: Complete the Change Readiness Survey
• Resending select diagnostic and clinical reports

Note: Active network credentials for Nova Scotia Health or IWK Health are required to access links above and below, unless otherwise indicated. More information beneath.

Medical leadership support through PDAAC

The Provider Digital Adoption and Advisory Council (PDAAC) brings together physician and nurse practitioner leaders, along with Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME) and Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) representatives, to focus on supporting providers as we approach Wave Two of the clinical information system (CIS) rollout. The council meets bi-weekly to address provider questions, identify emerging challenges and guide readiness efforts to ensure a smooth Go-Live. Stay informed by reviewing the latest PDAAC meeting notes on Provider Corner.

Reminder: Wave Two learning and practice opportunities

Wave Two CIS learning continues across Central Zone for physicians, nurse practitioners, residents, fellows, clinicians and staff, as well as select provincial services within the Mental Health and Addictions Program (MHAP).

Training: If you’re part of Wave Two and haven’t yet registered, visit the OPOR Hub’s Training Registration Portal. As we get closer to Go-Live, it is critically important that everyone is registered for classroom learning now. Remember: CIS training = CIS access. Training must be completed to receive access before Go-Live.

Practice: Virtual Practice Labs are available daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. until May 8, 2026, offering self-paced workflow practice in a safe environment. Register here.


Resources: Workflows and related resources are available on the OPOR Hub—visit the Impacted Areas page to quickly find the information most relevant to your role and work.


Family physicians and nurse practitioners who do not provide non-primary care within a Nova Scotia Health or IWK Health facility are not included in CIS training and will continue to have view-only access through the Provider Portal.

Reminder: Complete the Change Readiness Survey

Physicians involved in Wave Two of the CIS implementation are invited to complete the Change Readiness Survey. This brief, anonymous survey will help OPOR leaders understand how prepared staff feel ahead of Go-Live on May 9 and identify where additional support may be needed. The survey will remain open until Sunday, April 12. 

Resending of Select Diagnostic and Clinical Reports

An issue with the routing of diagnostic imaging, laboratory and clinical reports to primary care providers was identified following the implementation of the CIS at IWK.

This week, we will begin resending a set of reports and clinical notes that may not have been distributed to external faxes and EMRs due to the routing issues that occurred between Dec. 6, 2026, and Feb. 15, 2026. The reports and notes will be sent manually and may be received over several weeks and are already available in both the CIS and Provider Portal.

We are taking this step out of an abundance of caution to ensure primary care providers receive all clinically significant information about their patients. While the CIS routing issues have now been materially resolved, we want to be absolutely certain no result or clinical note has been missed.

Access to the OPOR Hub, including all links above, requires active Nova Scotia Health or IWK Health network credentials. 

This communication is intended for Nova Scotia Health providers, clinicians and staff in relation to OPOR.

NOAT Teams Collaborate with C3

All Nova Scotia Health Continuing Care Nursing Only Authorization Teams (NOAT) province-wide have now been fully trained in Care Coordination Centre (C3) technology and are now actively using the system to process acute care nursing orders.

NOAT supports individuals who only require nursing services through Continuing Care and typically have shorter-term health care needs such as wound care, IV antibiotics, etc.  Each month, approximately 11,000 people receive nursing services through Continuing Care. Learn more.

Upcoming Opportunities: Frailty Network

Interested in enhancing the care and quality of life for older adults (65+)?

The Nova Scotia Health Frailty and Elder Care Network (FECN) Council is a multidisciplinary group dedicated to developing and recommending impactful strategies to improve the health of older adults (65+) across healthcare settings. Our initiatives, like the Early Mobility and Dignity of Risk Programs, along with Seniors’ Care Teams in emergency departments, empower patients to return home sooner from hospital and support them to live independently.

If you’re inspired to learn more about how you can contribute to this vital work, or interested in exploring an implementation initiative at your site, email frailty@nshealth.ca.

Learning Opportunity: Frailty-Informed Care Module in LMS!

Early recognition can significantly improve outcomes and quality of life for older adults living with frailty, including fewer hospital-acquired complications and smoother transitions home.

The Frailty-Informed Care LMS Module helps direct care teams understand frailty, assess it using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) and apply that understanding to guide care planning, particularly in acute care settings.

By completing this 30-minute module, you’ll learn how to:

• Recognize frailty early and assess it using the CFS
• Apply CFS scores to create individualized care plans that prevent unintentional harm and support timely discharge
• Reinforce your learning with patient examples

This training supports key Nova Scotia Health initiatives like the Early Mobility Program, SAFER-f, Home First and Health Beyond Hospital, helping us deliver better outcomes for older adults living with frailty.

📚 Start learning today:

1. Visit https://elearning.nshealth.ca/ and login using your Nova Scotia Health network login

2. Click on the Catalogue tab and enter course code 1539 in the keywords field

3. Course will display on the page, add to your learning and complete

Virtual Roundtable: Creating Spaces for Suicide Loss and Grief

The Nova Scotia Grief Alliance, in partnership with Roots of Hope, invites anyone working or volunteering in grief support to join a virtual roundtable focused on suicide loss and grief.

🗓 Date: April 2, 2026

🕚 Time: 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

💻 Location: Virtual

The day includes three main sessions:

• Suicide Loss & Grief 101
• Suicide Bereavement Services and Supports
• Panel Discussion: Hear from people with lived experience and professionals who support those bereaved by suicide.

Participants may attend the full day or select the sessions that best meet their needs.

Visit the Nova Scotia Grief Alliance events page to register or learn more.

OPOR Spotlight Series: Dr. Julian Surujballi

Dr. Julian Surujballi, Medical Director, Cancer Care Program, Central and Western Zones & Interim Medical Lead for Quality, Cancer Care Program, is supporting the design, build and implementation of the Clinical Information System (CIS) for One Person One Record (OPOR).

In this Q&A, read what motivated him to get involved, his advice for fellow physicians and what he finds most exciting about this project. Read more on the Physician Portal.

Publication Spotlight: Improving Experiences in Trauma Care

An integrated team of trauma healthcare professionals, including Nova Scotia Health physicians and staff, penned the study "Improving Experiences in Trauma Care: How a Dedicated Trauma Consult Service Shaped Satisfaction for Patients, Families and Providers". This study was recently published in the Canadian College of Health Leaders Journal. Read here.

If you have a recent publication you'd like to share with colleagues through this newsletter, please reach out to physiciancomms@nshealth.ca.

Join The Canadian Doctors Orchestra

The Canadian Doctors Orchestra (CDO) invites physicians, residents, medical students and other healthcare professionals who play orchestral instruments to join a national roster of healthcare musicians.

Learn more or register here.

Physician Learning Opportunities

Recording Now Available: Building High-Trust Cultures in Medical Practice


This webinar, led by Dr. Kristen Woods, MD, equips physician leaders with actionable strategies to foster trust within their teams. Grounded in the Trust Edge model, the session explores how trust directly impacts clinical outcomes, team collaboration and organizational performance.


Watch on the Physician Portal here.

This webinar is part of the Medical Affairs Webinar Series Inspired Leadership for Physicians: Leading with Presence, Empathy and Purpose.

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If you're a physician seeking support for your practice or wishing to provide feedback, please reach out to our hotline. Our dedicated team is ready to assist you.

In the event we're engaged in another call, rest assured your voice message will be promptly addressed within one business day. Your concerns will be directed to the Medical Affairs team and our health system partners for resolution.

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